Public vs Publics?

The Science and its Publics lecture series explores the translation of science to its publics. What do we mean by publics?

"Publics" emphasizes the plurality and diversity of engagement, of the open-endedness of the conversation and the locations of contact. The idea of a unified "public" standing in distinction to a monolithic "Science" is exactly what we want to deconstruct. There are many roads open towards the engagement of science, expertise, ethics and citizens. "Public sphere" is too limited to explain this interaction and carries a history of social and class bias. "Publics" refers to active open discourses and practices, emphasizing the roles of judgment and discernment.